Empowering Ghanaian Women to Realize their Economic Potentials— Global Affairs Canada

The High Commissioner of Canada to Ghana and Sierra Leone, Her Excellency Madam Kati Csaba, has noted that through the Feminist International Assistance Policy (FIAP), Global Affairs Canada is continuously empowering women and girls to promote peace, equity and social justice.

She said reducing global poverty and vulnerabilities is at the heart of the efforts of Global Affairs Canada; and particularly, empowering women to realize their rights and economic potentials, goes a long way to benefit the whole society, in terms of sustainability and peace.

“For this reason, in Ghana, among other things, our team supports activities such as: agriculture initiatives that support women farmer-based organizations in post-production and processing; economic empowerment initiatives that support young women in non-traditional trades to help break bias; and gender-equality specific programming that helps women and girls realize their full human rights.”

She noted in a press statement ahead of this year’s 4^th Women in Food and Agriculture Leadership Training Forum (WOFAGRIC) and Gold in the Soil Awards, annually organized by Agrihouse Foundation.

While praising Agrihouse Foundation and the forty-five (45) women farmers who have been nominated and documented for this year’s Gold in the Soil Awards, Madam Kati Csaba extended a special acknowledgement to the other  seventeen (17) women farmers with disabilities,  who will be receiving Honorary Awards, on Wednesday, June 22 and Thursday, June 23, at the Akroma Plaza Hotel in the Western Region, Takoradi.

“I want to commend these impressive women for showing that living with a disability does not hold them back from achieving their full potentials. They have taken their destiny into their own hands and have excelled in their farming activities”

In line with the theme for this year’s two-day event, “AGRIWOMAN: RECOVER- GROW- STAND OUT,” she said Canada is looking forward to an event that would empower the women farmers to recover from the impacts of COVID-19, and grow to become more resilient to future shocks. “I would love to see agribusinesses led by Ghanaian women exporting their products beyond the shores of Ghana and earning higher incomes,” she added.

For her part, Executive Director of Agrihouse Foundation, Alberta Nana Akyaa Akosa Sarpong, revealed, this year’s ‘Gold in the Soil Awards’ received a total of eight-two (82) nominations, from the Western and Western North region.

“Generally, we are satisfied with the balanced representation in the categories; as well as the number of women farmers and Agribusinesses represented in this year’s nominations,” Ms. Akosa Sarpong said.

She said Day one of the two-day event would consist of capacity-building, mentorship, training and empowerment sessions, which would be facilitated by resources people selected from this year’s list of sponsors and collaborating organization.

Resource persons from MAG-Canada will be leading a capacity-building session on the topic, “Agri-woman lifestyle, Total Wellbeing and brand building.” They will also lead one on on mentorship sessions on self-presentation and positive mental health – how agriwomen can make the most of mental health tips to enhance their personal growth and family life.

Day two, which is the “Gold in the Soil Awards,” the event will Taward deserving small-scale women farmer who are thriving exceptionally with Gold in the Soil Awards. The awards, listed under fifteen categories include: Super Woman Farmer Award, She-Innovates Award, C-limate-Smart Women Project Award, The Change Champion Award, Lady of The Region Export Award, Development Partner Award, Princess Carla Award, She-Operates Award, Outstanding Woman in Extension Services Award, Star Woman Agripreneur Award (Woman Agripreneur Award), Royal Agro Award, Diamond in the Rough Award, Feed to Food Awards – (Poultry, Livestock & Fisheries) and the ultimate, Gold in the Soil Award.

About WOFAGRIC and Gold in the Soil Awards

Annually, the WOFAGRIC and Gold in the Soil Awards moves from region to region, with the aim of empowering and celebrating the exceptional efforts of women in agriculture across the Regions.

In the past three (3) years, the two-part event has been held in the Volta Region, Ashanti Region, Upper East and West Regions. While the Women in Food and Agriculture Leadership Training Forum has developed and strengthened the capacities of over 2000 women in Agribusiness, by exposing them to more innovative approaches of handling their agribusinesses; the Gold in the Soil Awards has received about 638 entries, and awarded 45 agriwomen under the various categories.

The event also brings together stakeholders in government, policy and administration, development-partner organisations, Research, FBOs, Agric institutions, and resource persons, who support in the capacity building, training and mentorship sessions. The trainers and mentors empower the women with business knowledge and industry innovations, to help women excel in the sector.

This year, Global Affairs Canada, YARA, RDF Ghana, ABSA, OCP AFRICA, and Fidelity Bank are corporate sponsors the event.

Collaborating Institution include the Ministry of Food and Agriculture (MOFA), Women in Agriculture Development (WIAD), the National Farmers and Fishermen Award Winners Association (NFFAWAG) and the Western Regional Coordinating Council.